Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to vehicle systems, and more particularly to a control system for a dual-tone electronic horn in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[002] To produce desired sounds in vehicles, a dual-tone horn system has been evolved which comprises a high tone horn and a low tone horn. The high tone horn can produce a sound with a relatively high frequency and the low tone horn can produce a sound with a relatively low frequency. For example, one horn can be designed to have a resonant frequency of four hundred hertz and the other can be designed to have a resonant frequency of five hundred hertz.
[003] The high tone horn and the low tone horn are typically connected with independent controller and driver circuits. Since both the horn circuits comprise similar type of components, the cost of the horn system may be comparatively high. Moreover, the wired connections of both the horn circuits may increase the complexity. Further, the drive circuit of the low tone horn may be prone to frequent failures.
[004] FIG. 1 depicts an existing vehicle horn system 100 with independent control circuits for high tone (HT) and low tone (LT) horns. The vehicle horn system 100 comprises a HT horn circuit 102, and an LT horn circuit 104. The HT horn circuit 102 further comprises a HT horn 106, a body control module 108, a first controller 110, a HT driver 112, a vehicle supply 114, and a first fuse 116. The LT horn circuit 104 further comprises an LT horn 118, a second controller 120, an LT driver 122, and a second fuse 124.
[005] The first controller 110 of the HT horn circuit 102 and the second controller 120 of the LT horn circuit 104 receive one or more inputs from the body control module 108 of the vehicle. The body control module 108 may receive input signals of a desired horn type from a horn pad of the vehicle. Based on the received input signals, the body control module 108 may input varied voltage or impedance to the controller indicating the desired sound frequency i.e., either a high tone frequency or a low tone frequency or a combination thereof. Further, the HT driver 112 and/or the LT driver 122 may receive the inputs from their corresponding first controller 110 or the second controller 120 and drive the MOSFET of the relevant HT horn 106 or the LT horn 118.
[006] Each horn i.e., the HT horn 106 and the LT horn 118, comprises an inductor coil L1 connected in series with the vehicle supply 114 and corresponding first fuse 116 and the second fuse 124 for safe circuit operation. The first fuse 116 and the second fuse 124 may comprise a 20 Amp fuse. The other end of the inductor coil L1 is connected with the power MOSFET M1 which is driven by the corresponding HT driver 112 and the LT driver 122.
[007] Therefore, since the existing vehicle horn system 100 uses independent control and drive circuits for producing desired horn sound, the complexity and cost of the circuit horn system 100 increases.

OBJECTS
[008] The principal object of embodiments herein is to disclose systems and methods for controlling a dual-tone vehicle horn in a vehicle, wherein the dual-tone vehicle horn uses a common controller circuit.
[009] Another object of embodiments herein is to disclose systems and methods for controlling a high tone horn and a low tone horn using a common drive circuit.
[0010] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0011] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an existing vehicle horn system, according to prior arts;
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts an example system for controlling multiple horn tones in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIGs. 3A and 3B depict a system comprising a common control circuit for controlling the HT and LT vehicle horns in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts a method for controlling a vehicle horn, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0017] The embodiments herein achieve a common control circuit for controlling the high tone and the low tone vehicle horns in a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts an example system 200 for controlling multiple horn tones in a vehicle. The system 200 comprises a master horn circuit 202, and multiple slave horn circuits 204. The multiple slave horn circuits 204 are connected to the master horn circuit 202. For example, in the FIG. 2, the slave horn circuits 204 are depicted as slave 1 horn circuit 204a, slave 2 horn circuit 204b, and slave n horn circuit 204n. Therefore, as depicted, n number of slave horn circuits 204 can be controlled by the master horn circuit 202.
[0019] In an embodiment, the master horn circuit 202 can be configured to produce at least one high tone (HT) sound and the slave horn circuits 204 can be configured to produce multiple low tone (LT) sounds. In another embodiment, the master horn circuit 202 can be configured to produce at least one HT sound and the slave horn circuits 204 can be configured to produce multiple LT sounds.
[0020] In an embodiment, the master horn circuit 202 can be equipped with a controller to selectively control the master horn circuit 202 and multiple slave horn circuits 204. The controller can be configured to control either the master horn circuit 202 and at least one slave horn circuit 204 based on a user input to produce a desired horn sound.
[0021] FIG. 3A depicts an example system 300 comprising a common control circuit for controlling the HT and LT vehicle horns in a vehicle. The example system 300 comprises a master HT horn circuit 302a, and a slave LT horn circuit 304a. In this embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A, the HT horn circuit can be configured as a master circuit and the LT horn circuit can be configured as a slave circuit. FIGs. 3A and 3B depict example systems, wherein embodiments herein have been explained using one slave LT horn circuit as an example; however, it may be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the system may comprise of one or more slave LT horn circuits.
[0022] In an embodiment, the master HT horn circuit 302a comprises at least one master horn 306, a body control module 308, a controller 310, a driver 312, a vehicle supply 314, and a first fuse 316. The slave LT horn circuit 304a further comprises at least one slave horn 318, and a second fuse 320.
[0023] In an embodiment, the master horn 306 is configured to produce at least one HT sound and the slave horn 318 is configured to produce at least one LT second sound. Further, the HT sound is configured to be higher than the LT sound. Thus, the master horn 306 is configured to produce the sound with a higher frequency, whereas the slave horn 318 is configured to produce a sound with a lower frequency. For example, the higher frequency of the sound produced by the master horn 306 can be approximately 500 Hz and the lower frequency of the sound produced by the slave horn 318 can be approximately 400Hz.
[0024] In an embodiment, the driver 312 is configured to drive at least one of the master horn 306 and the slave horn 318. The controller 310 is configured to supply at least one control signal to the driver 312, on receiving an indication from a user of the vehicle. The controller 310 may be a microcontroller. The control signal is supplied to the driver 312 for selectively controlling the at least one of the master horn 306 and the slave horn 318 for producing the HT sound and/or the LT sound.
[0025] The controller 310 is configured to receive the control signal from the body control module 308, wherein the body control module 308 can receive an indication from the user of the vehicle. The control signal from the body control module 308 indicates the frequency of the sound to be produced. The body control module 308 can be preprogrammed with the higher frequency and the lower frequency. Therefore, when the user presses the horn pad of the vehicle with a desired horn, then the body control module 308 may send the required frequency signal to the controller 310. Based on the received frequency indication, the controller 310 controls the desired horn from the master HT horn circuit 302a through the driver 312.
[0026] For example, if the vehicle horn pad is pressed for a high tone sound (i.e., a sound with a high frequency), then the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change to the controller 310 which indicates a higher frequency to be produced. For example, the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change for producing the higher frequency. The controller 310 is pre-defined with the frequency values for each sound to be produced. The controller 310 thereby supplies a control signal to the driver 312 to drive the MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) of the master horn 306 to produce a high tone horn sound.
[0027] If the vehicle horn pad is pressed for a low tone sound, then the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change to the controller 310 which indicates a lower frequency to be produced. For example, the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change for producing the lower frequency. The controller 310 thereby supplies a control signal to the driver 312 to drive the MOSFET of the slave horn 318 to produce a low tone horn sound.
[0028] FIG. 3B depicts another embodiment of a system 300 comprising a common control circuit for controlling the HT and LT vehicle horns in a vehicle. The system 300 comprises a master LT horn circuit 302b, and a slave HT horn circuit 304b. In this embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A, the LT horn circuit 302b can be configured as a master circuit and the HT horn circuit 304b can be configured as a slave circuit.
[0029] In an embodiment, the master LT horn circuit 302b comprises at least one master horn 306, a body control module 308, a controller 310, a driver 312, a vehicle supply 314, and a first fuse 316. The slave HT horn circuit 304b further comprises at least one slave horn 318, and a second fuse 320.
[0030] In an embodiment, the master horn 306 is configured to produce at least one LT sound and the slave horn 318 is configured to produce at least one HT sound. Further, the LT sound is configured to be lower than the HT sound. Thus, the master horn 306 is configured to produce the sound with a lower frequency, whereas the slave horn 318 is configured to produce a sound with a higher frequency.
[0031] In an embodiment, the driver 312 is configured to drive at least one of the master horn 306 and the slave horn 318. The controller 310 is configured to supply at least one control signal to the driver 312, on receiving an indication from a user of the vehicle. The controller 310 may be a microcontroller. The control signal is supplied to the driver 312 for selectively controlling the at least one of the master horn 306 and the slave horn 318 for producing the HT sound and/or the LT sound.
[0032] The controller 310 is configured to receive the control signal from the body control module 308, wherein the body control module 308 can receive an indication from the user of the vehicle. The control signal from the body control module 308 indicates the frequency of the sound to be produced. Based on the received frequency indication, the controller 310 controls the desired horn from the master LT horn circuit 302b through the driver 312.
[0033] For example, if the vehicle horn pad is pressed for a high tone sound (i.e., a sound with a high frequency), then the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change to the controller 310 which indicates a higher frequency to be produced. The controller 310 thereby supplies a control signal to the driver 312 to drive the MOSFET of the slave horn 318 to produce a high tone horn sound.
[0034] If the vehicle horn pad is pressed for a low tone sound, then the body control module 308 may supply a voltage change or impedance change to the controller 310 which indicates a lower frequency to be produced. The controller 310 thereby supplies a control signal to the driver 312 to drive the MOSFET of the master horn 306 to produce a low tone horn sound.
[0035] FIGs. 3A and 3B depict an example scenario where only one slave LT horn and only one slave HT horn is shown merely for ease of explanation and does not limit the invention. The proposed system 300 can be applicable for controlling multiple HT sounds and multiple LT sounds.
[0036] FIG. 4 depicts a method 400 for controlling a vehicle horn. The method 400 begins with receiving at least one input, by the controller, from a body control module of the vehicle, as depicted at step 402. The input is the frequency range to be produced, which indicates the horn type received from the vehicle horn pad. The input may be a varied voltage or impedance to the controller indicating the desired sound frequency i.e., either a higher frequency or a lower frequency.
[0037] Subsequently, the controller 210 checks whether the received input is the higher frequency, as depicted at step 404, which is to be produced. If the input received from the body control module is the higher frequency, then the controller checks whether the HT horn is configured as thee master, as depicted at step 406. If the HT horn is configured as the master, then a control signal is transmitted to the driver for controlling the master horn, as depicted at step 410. Otherwise, a control signal is transmitted to the driver for controlling the slave horn, as depicted at step 408.
[0038] If the input received from the body control module is the lower frequency, as depicted at step 404, then the controller checks whether the LT horn is configured as the master, as depicted at step 408. If the LT horn is configured as the master, then a control signal is transmitted to the driver for controlling the master horn as depicted at step 410. Otherwise, a control signal is transmitted to the driver for controlling the slave horn, as depicted at step 412.
[0039] The various actions in method 400 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 4 may be omitted.
[0040] Thus, the proposed system and method provide a common controller circuit for controlling a dual-tone vehicle horn in a vehicle. The disclosed system provides a common drive circuit for controlling a high tone horn and a low tone horn. Further, the system facilitates a cost effective circuit for controlling the high tone and low tone horns.
[0041] Further, the proposed system can be applicable to vehicle horns such as electronic horns. The proposed system facilitates controlling of multiple tone horn sounds.
[0042] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A system (300) for controlling a vehicle horn, comprising:
at least one master horn (306) to produce at least one high tone (HT) sound or at least one low tone (LT) sound;
at least one slave horn (318) to produce the at least one HT sound or the at least one LT sound;
a driver (312) configured to drive at least one of, the at least one master horn (306) and the at least one slave horn (318); and
a controller (310) configured to:
verify at least one sound frequency based on at least one input received from a body control module (308); and
transmit at least one control signal to the driver (312) based on the verified at least one sound frequency, for producing at least one of the at least one HT sound or the at least one LT sound.

2. The system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle horn comprises an electronic horn.

3. The system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one master horn (306) comprises at least one of a high tone (HT) horn and a low tone (LT) horn, wherein the at least one slave horn (318) comprises at least one of the high tone (HT) horn and the low tone (LT) horn.

4. The system (300) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one HT sound is produced when the at least one master horn (306) is configured as the HT horn, and the at least one LT sound is produced when the at least one slave horn (318) is configured as the LT horn, and the at least one LT sound is produced when the at least one master horn (306) is configured as the LT horn and, and the at least one HT sound is produced when the at least one slave horn (318) is configured as the HT horn.
5. The system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (300) comprises a first fuse (316) and a second fuse (320), and wherein the first fuse is connected to the at least one master horn (306) and the second fuse (320) is connected to the at least one slave horn (318).

6. A method (400) for controlling a vehicle horn, comprising:
verifying at least one sound frequency based on at least one input received by a controller (310), from a body control module (308);
transmitting at least one control signal to a driver (312), based on the verified at least one sound frequency; and
driving at least one of, the at least one master horn (306) and the at least one slave horn (318) based on the at least one control signal, for producing at least one high tone (HT) sound or at least one low tone (LT) sound.

7. The method (400) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one master horn (306) comprises at least one of a high tone (HT) horn and a low tone (LT) horn, and wherein the at least one slave horn (318) comprises at least one of the high tone (HT) horn and the low tone (LT) horn.

8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the method (400) comprises:
configuring the at least one master horn (306) as the HT horn for producing the at least one HT sound, and configuring the at least one slave horn (318) as the LT horn for producing the at least one LT sound;
configuring the at least one master horn (306) as the LT horn for producing the at least one LT sound, and configuring the at least one slave horn (318) as the HT horn for producing the at least one HT sound.

9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 6, wherein transmitting the at least one control signal to the driver (312) comprises:
verifying whether the HT horn is configured as a master, if the controller (210) verifies the sound frequency as higher;
transmitting the at least one control signal to the driver (312) for controlling the master horn (306), if the HT horn is configured as the master, otherwise transmitting the at least one control signal for controlling the slave horn (318);
verifying whether the LT horn is configured as a master, if the controller (310) verifies the sound frequency as lower; and
transmitting the at least one control signal to the driver (312) for controlling the master horn (306), if the LT horn is configured as the master, otherwise transmitting the at least one control signal for controlling the slave horn (318).

10. The method (400) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method (400) comprises:
connecting a first fuse (316) to the at least one master horn (306); and
connecting a second fuse (320) to the at least one slave horn (318).